From a talented, whimsical artist to a podium-finishing speed runner, these are our 2020 cover stars – and this is what they’re getting up to this festive season …
ASTA GANASEN
10KM RUNNING CHAMP
Please share 3 highlights of 2020? I convinced my husband to get a springer spaniel puppy just before lock down – his name is Hunter; winning the Deloitte 10km running race and breaking my personal best time – this was sadly the last race for the year due to Covid-19; and celebrating our one-year wedding anniversary away in the Midlands
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? My husband and I start Christmas Day at church with my family in the morning and then get together with the whole family in the afternoon for a Christmas lunch at a family member’s home.
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year? The new Nike ZoomxVaporfly Next% running shoes (it’s a runner’s thing!).
What’s your favourite Christmas meal? Definitely roast lamb with gravy, potatoes and veggies.
What is your New Year’s resolution? To be honest, I have never set a New Year’s resolution. Life is unpredictable. However, I always make sure to enter the new year with a positive mindset and attainable goals. I truly believe that ‘it all begins and ends with your mind’ and what you give power to has power over you, if you allow it.
AMY-JANE JENKINS
WATERCOLOUR ARTIST, LITTLE JANE FLORALS
Please share 3 highlights of 2020? My Get It Magazine cover; spending quality time at home with my hubby – it was stressful and uncertain, but it is something special to spend four months at home with your spouse; and using lockdown to upskill and learn new things. It’s been a year of growth!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions?
I don’t think it’s unusual … but the tree usually goes up in about October and we do all our big celebrations on Christmas Eve, and have a more relaxed Christmas Day.
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year?
Some more art supplies!
What’s your favourite Christmas meal? Pudding – peppermint crisp tart!
What is your New Year’s resolution? I love resolutions, not because I always manage to stick to them, but because I at least like to try. Probably being more open to change, adapting to change and using change as an opportunity to grow and flourish.
NOMFUNDO MLABA
SOCIAL INFLUENCER AND FACE OF PONDS SA
Your top 3 highlights of 2020? Being on the cover of Get It Magazine; securing two television adverts; and getting four distinctions out of my six modules.
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? We just eat … that’s all we do on Christmas!
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year? A new phone – an iPhone 11 Pro 256GB to be specific!
What is your favourite Christmas meal? Dessert! Any dessert!
What is your New Year’s resolution?
I want to write more, to update my blog at least bi-monthly or even have my own column.
LYNDA BRYANT
OWNER OF THRIVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS BALLITO
What 3 highlights of 2020?
It’s been a difficult year and everyone has felt the effects of 2020. For me, a highlight has been seeing our team pull together in such an uncertain time and the support and kindness shown when there were so many fearful unknowns; to see the growth of Thrive has been a major highlight of 2020 – my dream came to fruition opening (and moving) our Ballito store and we acquired Hilton Pharmacy and converted to a Thrive Hilton; and lockdown taught us many lessons, my favourite though has been to slow down and enjoy the moments and to let go and be open to change!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions?
Tree goes up on 1 December with loads of decorations around the house and garden. I usually work late on Christmas eve, so it is a quiet evening and then Christmas Day starts early with excitement and present opening. We have a traditional family lunch with family and friends that are family.
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year?
A few bottles of nice wine please … so I never have to run out again!
Do you have any plans to go away? If so, where are you off to?
We always go away after Christmas for two weeks to Kasouga – a tiny seaside village in the Eastern Cape.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
I believe in setting goals of what I would like to achieve in the year, then constantly checking in during the year and seeing how we are doing on that path. For 2021 I would like to open another two Thrive stores and continue to grow and develop the brand across KZN.
PETER CAMERON
(WITH COCO LILY AND SCARLETT)
CO-OWNER AND FOUNDER OF CAMERON JAMES REAL ESTATE
Your top 3 highlights of 2020? Launching Cameron James residential offices at Simbithi and Umdloti; Cameron James partnering with the Sharks Rugby Union – something that has been a dream since 2016; falling in love with music again – the song, Times like these by the Foo Fighters, became my 2020 theme song!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? We have a family farm in Creighton, about 30 minutes from Underberg, which is where I have had ninety percent of my Christmases since I was born. There are multiple roasts, afternoon naps and lots of family time – and my daughters love it.
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year? Well as one of Santa’s helpers I know what will be under the tree … haha. Just seeing the joy on my two daughter’s faces when they get their gifts is more than enough.
What’s your favourite Christmas meal? My family is full of good cooks so food is a big deal. My mother wrote a cook book when she was younger and my cousin Jackie Cameron is (without been biased) the best chef in the country. The ladies get stuck in the kitchen three days before Christmas and there is everything you can imagine … including a traditional Christmas cake with a penny in it and the cake soaked in brandy!
What is your New Year’s resolution? After this year, that is a good question! To trust my gut, love my family and friends more and believe in myself like never before.
CHRISTY-ANN DU PLESSIS
FITNESS TRAINER, PHYSIO, MOM & BUSINESSWOMAN
Your top 3 highlights of 2020? Starting my live online workouts during lockdown, which became a booming new business; being a fitness trainer on SuperSport TV and seeing the amazing impact the workouts have had on people; and of course being the November Get It cover girl!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? Everyone receives a tin of condensed milk under the tree. We make holes in the tin and drink the condensed milk. I usually finish my tin first … and I then am reminded why I like to eat healthily for the rest of the next year!
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year? It may sound cheesy, but I honestly do not desire any specific gift at this stage. The best is just seeing the kids’ excitement and spending time together as a family.
What’s your favourite Christmas meal? Does pudding count as a meal? It’s my late gran’s famous pink pudding and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and cream. Mostly because it brings back happy festive memories.
Do you have any plans to go away? If so, where are you off to? We are going to my parents’ farm near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape and my in-laws’ farm in the Karoo in the Northern Cape. We go to our parents on the farms every Christmas and New Year and enjoy the quality family time with our families.
DR LUNGILE MHLONGO
GP AND FOUNDER OF NUMA MEDICAL AESTHETICS
What are your top 3 highlights of 2020? Opening my second Numa branch in Richards Bay, being the cover girl of the Get It and making it through the pandemic alive and in good health!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? For as long as I can remember, Christmas has been done the same way at home, in Mobeni Heights. My son and I travel home on 24 December and wake up early on Christmas morning to start preparing lunch and open up presents. Then we feast and have a great time as a family.
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year? I would really like to go on an all-expenses-paid island holiday … so an envelope with flight and itinerary details under the tree would be great.
What’s your favourite Christmas meal? As I mentioned before that we wake up early to prepare the Christmas, you can imagine the variety of food that is available for lunch so I’m normally on a “see food” diet if it looks good, I’m having, I don’t have a favourite but if I were to choose then it would be turkey because that’s normally reserved for Christmas lunch.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
I really just want to grow as a person, to see my business grow and flourish and then to maintain a good and healthy lifestyle.
JACQUI BRUNIQUEL
AWARD-WINNING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Your top 3 highlights of 2020? Winning international awards for my wedding photography; spending quality time with my family after lockdown was eased; selling my house, registering to do my Masters in Fine Art at Rhodes University and moving to Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown). Big changes!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? Our family always does Christmas Eve dinner and my sister and I make a vegetarian starter of buffalo mozzarella, roasted tomatoes and peppers with lots of basil pesto. Christmas day is spent lazing by the pool if it’s not raining!
Will you be doing anything differently this year? My life has gone through an enormous change so everything is going to be different in 2021. Going back to University at the age of 43 is going to be interesting and I am tremendously excited for this new chapter.
Do you have any plans to go away? If so, where are you off to? I am coming back to Umdloti for the Christmas holidays
What is your New Year’s resolution? To ground myself in my feminine power and make a new life rich in creativity, beauty and community! Also to get back into horse riding and surf lots.
Photo: Sayasana Sirimanotham
DR ROHINI BISAAL
BALLITO DENTIST, MODEL, DANCER AND PORCHE-DRIVER!
Your top 3 highlights of 2020? Meeting wonderful people and building healthy relationships; learning and developing in my personal and professional realm; and feeling like an astronaut treating patients with all the PPE we’ve had to wear will definitely be a story to tell one day!
Do you have any special family Christmas traditions? Every Christmas is spent with family where we gather together and feast! My mom usually makes an amazing Christmas cake, a tradition for years, and adds coins to the cake (of course it is thoroughly sanitized before) for a bit of magic! It was considered very lucky if you found the coin in your slice when we were younger!
What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year?
An official statement stating an actual cure for Covid-19 … and a solution for humanity going forward. We have become so consumed with news and anxiety around the virus that we humans have become disconnected to a certain extent. I guess you cannot find this under the Christmas tree – but it’s a mind-set that if implemented by us all, a powerful and positive outcome can manifest in this world.
Do you have any plans to go away? If so, where are you off to? Definitely not this year. Once everything settles we would love to plan a white Christmas overseas. For now, an intimate gathering with the family will do.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
To be better and more sound mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally than the year before. 2020 has taught us a lot and I guess taking those lessons through to the next year will only better us as humans.
Text: Leah Shone Photographs: Chris Allan photo
